Is upgrading from an i7-2600 to a Ryzen 5 5500 worthwhile with a GTX 1060?

Yes, the Ryzen 5 5500 would be a major CPU upgrade over the i7-2600, even though it’s not as fast as a Ryzen 5 5600 and lacks PCIe 4.0 support. The main catch is that the GTX 1060 will often become the limiting component, especially in newer, graphically demanding games. You’re more likely to notice the improvement in esports titles, frame-time smoothness, and general desktop use than in games where the GPU is already maxed out.

If the total cost of the motherboard, CPU, and RAM gets much above $250–$300, compare it with the price of a newer complete system or a used bundle. Used DDR4 can help keep the cost down, and 16GB is a reasonable starting point, but memory prices can make this upgrade less attractive than it first appears. If you stay with AM4, a Ryzen 5 5600 is generally worth considering if it’s only slightly more expensive because it has more cache and performs better in games.

This kind of upgrade can still make the computer feel dramatically faster. Moving from a second-generation i7 to a Ryzen 5 3600-class or newer processor brings much better responsiveness and can improve minimum frame rates, even with an older graphics card. I’d upgrade the platform if you can get the parts cheaply, then save for a GPU upgrade later. Just check that your power supply is reliable and that your expectations are realistic: the GTX 1060 will still determine performance in many modern games.